Can packaging apparatus and method



March 1961 N. ANDRE ETAL 2,974,454

CAN PACKAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed March 22, 1956 9 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS NOBLE ANDRE WOLFGANG B. FAHRENBACH JOHN J TVLL ATTORNEYS March 14, 1961 N. ANDR ETAL 54 CAN PACKAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed March 22, 1956 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 95 INVENTORS, NOBLE ANDRE WOLFGANG B. FAHRENBACH JOHN J TVLL r %%%%/%y A TTORNEVS March 14, 1961 N. ANDRE ETAL 2,974,454

CAN PACKAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed March 22, 1956 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS NGBLE ANDRE WQMANG B. FAHRENBACH JOHN J. TYLL A TTOPNEVS March 14, 1961 N. ANDR EIAL 2,974,454

CAN PACKAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed March 22, 1956 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORS NOBLE ANDRE WOLFGANG 8. FAHRENBACH JOHN J TVLL March 14, 1961 N. ANDR ETAL 2,974,454

CAN PACKAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed March 22, 1956 INVENTORS NOBLE ANDRE WOLFGANG 5. FAHRENBACH JOHN J TVLL ATTORNEYS March 14, 1961 N. ANDR ETAL 2,974,454

CAN PACKAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed March 22, 1956 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 f/GL /5 INVENTORS j NOBLE ANDRE WOLFGANG B. FAHRENBACH JOHN J TYLL ATTORNEYS March 14, 1961 N. ANDR ETAL 2,974,454

0. m PACKAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed March 22, 1956 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTORS I NOBLE ANDRE WOLFGANG B. FAHRENBACH JOHN J TYLL ATTORNEYS United States Patent 9 i CAN PACKAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD Noble Andr, San Francisco, Wolfgang B. Fahrenbach,

Oakland, and John J. Tyll, San Francisco, Calif., assignors to Andre-Matic Machinery Company Filed Mar. 22, 1956, Ser. No. 573,196

8 Claims. 01. 53-32) This invention relates to apparatus and methods for packing upright cylindrical objects, such as cans, in a carrier.

' Specifically the apparatus and method of this invention were designed for use with an open ended carrier of the type shown in copending application, Serial No. 400,675, filed December 28, 1953, now US. Patent No. 2,867,320. Such carriers are in eifect a sleeve of card board or the like formed around a plurality of cans which may comprise a consumer unit commonly known as a six-pack. The carrier blank comprises a flat strip of cardboard which is cut and creased for folding into the carrier.

Packaging cans by hand in such a carrier is, of course, a tedious and time consuming task. Many dilficulties have been encountered in providing apparatus for packaging cans in this type of carrier. For one thing, cans or like cylindrical objects are somewhat hard to handle and to guide into association with the carrier blank for wrapping. Also various prior methods of packaging cans have been complicated and costly and inefficient apparatus has been used to perform such methods.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a simple and efiicient method for packaging a plurality of upright cylindrical objects in a carrie Another object of this invention is the provision of apparatus for carrying out the above method. 7

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a novel method for forming a flat, elongated carrier blank into a carrier around a plurality of cans.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a method for depositingcans on a carrier blank for packaging by said blank.

A still further object of this invention is the provisionof apparatus for rapidly and efiiciently packing a plurality of upright cans in an open ended sleeve-type carton.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide means for depositing a plurality of cans in a regular arrangement on a moving carrier blank.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a novel means for engaging locking tabs on a moving carrier.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved method and means for forming a compact package from a strip of cardboard and a plurality of cans or the like, and which'package does not require glue, cement or the like to hold it together.

In this respect, it should be mentioned that the wrapping of a strip of cardboard around a plurality of cans or the like and the holding of such strip around such cans for handling of the said plurality of cans as a unit, without the use of glue, tape, staples, cord or the like overcomes the objection to such means of securement, since no glue, staples, tape, etc. is required, and the. problems of applying such external means are omitted, and also the objections to opening a package having such external means are avoided. In other words, by securing a strip of cardboard around a group of cans Patented Mar. l4, 1 b];

ice

without uniting the ends of the strip but by merely mechanically locking localized portions of the strip t0 gether by forming cooperatively engaging parts on the strip enables the strip to. be readily secured about the cans and to be as readily removed.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the end of the apparatus of this invention into which the carrier blanks and cans to be packaged therein are fed for progression through the apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the central portion of the apparatus of this invention continuing from Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view, continuing from Fig. 2, of the end of the apparatus of this invention at which the packaging of the cans in the carrier is completed;

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of the apparatus of this invention as seen generally from line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken generally along line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 6, 7 are enlarged views similar'to the right hand portion of Fig. 5 and showing steps in the feeding of carrier blanks .from the magazine to the packaging apparatus;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional View along line 8-8 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken generally along line 9-? of Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional along line 10-10 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 11, 12, 13, 14 are enlarged sectional views taken substantially along lines 11- 11, 12-12, 13-13 and 1414, respectively, of Fig. 2, showing progressive steps in the formation of the carrier about the cans;

Fig. 15 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along line 15-15 of Fig. 4, showing details of the mechanism for locking the ends of the carrier together;

taken generally view taken generally Fig. 16 is a partial View similar to Fig. 15 showing the this invention is adapted to function is specifically described in the above mentioned application, Serial No. 400,675. Referring to 'Fig. 20, such carrier, generally designated 1, may be formed from a flat blank of card board provided with cuts and creases (the latter being shown by dot-dash lines) to form a top panel 2, side panels 3, 4 and bottom 8 projecting therefrom.

The apparatus and method of this invention are adapted to enclose a plurality of upright cylindrical objects, such as cans 9, arranged in two rows in side by side relation on opposite sides of the central transverse plane of the blank from which carrier 1 is formed. It

panels 5, 6, having extensions 7,

will be noted that the carrier formed is essentially an open ended, rectangular sleeve surrounding the cans.

In order to prevent the end cans in the rows from being displaced out of the open ends of the carrier, a plurality of cuts 10 are provided through which the chimes of the upper and lower ends of said cans can project when the sleeve is wrapped tightly about the rows of cans. The carrier may also be provided with flaps 11 projecting inwardly from top panel 2 at the central plane thereof for separating the adjacent cans in the opposed rows for preventing the chimes of one can from riding up is also seen in Fig. 20 that extensions 7, 8 are folded over the chimes of the adjacent can. It

' inverting the carrier.

3 between the rows of cans at the central plane of the carrier for the same above mentioned purpose.

Carrier 1 is adapted to be secured about the cans without the aid of glue or other adhesive or staples and is therefore provided with locking tabs 12 (Fig. struck out of extension 7 and engageable in openings pro vided in bottom panel 6 by pushing flaps 13 away from said bottom panel, as will be later described. It is to be understood that, although the invention will be described in relation to the specific carrier herein disclosed, the method and apparatus of this invention may be slightly modified to function with any of the carriers of the generally rectangular, open ended sleeve-type. It is for the purpose of consolidating the description of the specific embodiment of the method and apparatus shown that the aforementioned particular carrier has been shown.

Generally, the method and apparatus of this invention are for performing the following steps: conveying the carrier blank along a horizontal path of travel transversely of the longest dimension of the blank; forming projections, such as flaps 11, at the central transverse plane of the blank; depositing the cans on the central portion of the blank arranged on either side of the central plane; folding the oppositely outwardly projecting portions of the blank around the rows of cans; tucking extensions 7, 8 between the rows of cans; securing the bottom panels 5, 6 of the carrier together as by locking tabs 12 and the openings formed by flaps 13; and It will be noted that finger holes 14 have been provided in top panel 2 for the purpose of facilitating the carrying of carrier 1. For this reason panel 2 has been designated as the top panel and the carrier is shown as formed in an inverted position. However, either of the panels which extend over the ends of the cans may function as a top panel depending upon the position in which it is desired to carry the carrier. In the event that the carrier is to be used in the position formed, panels 5, 6 would become the top panels and the step of inverting the carrier would be unnecessary.

In detail, referring to Fig. 1, the apparatus of this invention is built around a horizontally extending conveyor, generally designated 18, which conveys the carrier blanks 1 in single file along a generally horizontal path of travel, with the blanks extending transversely of said path, for formation into a carrier around the cans 9. In order to feed the carrier blanks onto conveyor 18, a blank magazine and feeding mechanism, generally designated 19, 2t), respectively (Figs. 1, 5, 6, 7), are provided spaced from the starting end of conveyor 18.

Blank magazine 20 comprises a plate 21 (Figs. 6, 7) positioned angularly with respect to the horizontal and extending transversely of the direction of movement of conveyor 18 for supporting a stack of blanks 1 with their lower edges resting on plate 21. The stack of blanks extends up the incline of plate 21 and the lower edge of such stack is supported by a roller 22 extend ing across the lower forward edge of plate 21 and projecting upwardly therefrom. The direction forwardly is taken with reference to the movement of conveyor 18 which, as designated by the arrow 23, is to the left in Fig. 1. The upper edges of blanks 1 in the magazine 20 are held by'a pair of spaced catches 24- which hook over the upper forward edge of the lowermost forward blank 1 and are mounted on a transverse bar 25 secured to the frame of the apparatus as is plate 21. Catches 24 hook just slightly over the edge of blanks 1 in order to support the stack in the magazine, but the lowermost forward blank may be readily pulled away from said catches by the application of a slight force as will be later described. The rear end of catches 24 may be slantingly disposed upwardly as at 26 in order to assure feeding of the stack of blanks 1 into proper association with the forward, hook ends of said catches.

In order to feed the carrier blanks one by one onto the conveyor 18, a pair of spaced suction cups 29 are provided mounted on brackets 30 which are secured to a pair of spaced, generally parallel cross bars 31, 32 extending transversely of conveyor 18. At its ends, cross bar 32 is pivoted to a pair of arms 33 (Figs. 1, 5, 6, 7) the lower ends of which are connected to the frame of the apparatus by a fixed pivot 34. The ends of cross bars 31, 32 are held in their spaced relationship by a pair of short links 35 for swinging together about pivot 34 upon swinging arm 33. The ends of cross bar 31 are each pivoted to a short link 36, each of which is in turn pivotally connected to an arm 37 which is pivoted to the frame as by fixed pivot 38 (Figs. 5, 6). Cross bars 31, 32 and therefore suction cups 29 are by this structure capable of swinging in response to the swinging of arms 33, 37 and also of tilting with respect to said arms. This allows suction cups 29 to move from the position shown in Fig. 6 adjacent the lower side of the lowermost blank in magazine 20 to the dot-dash line position feeding the leading edge of said blank between a pair of friction wheels 39, 40. Friction wheels 39, 40 deliver the blank to conveyor 18 as will be later described.

Means for swinging arms 33, 37 is provided by a radial cam 41 which engages a follower 42 mounted centrally on a transverse bar 43 which is secured as by welding each of its ends to each arm 37. In this manner, both arms 37 swinging together under the influence of the rotation of cam 41 with the shaft 44 upon which it is mounted. Shaft 44 may be separately driven or preferably is driven by a chain 45 (Figs. 1, 5) and a sprocket 46 timed with the remainder of the apparatus. Follower 42 is held in engagement with the periphery of cam 41 by return spring 47 (Fig. 5).

The tilting of suction cups 29 from the generally horizontal dotted line position shown in Fig. 6 to the solid line position is accomplished by a fixed cam 50, which is secured to the frame of the apparatus, in association with a. follower 51 which depends from cross bar 31. The configuration of a cam 50 is such that when cam 4-1 is at its lowest dwell and arms 37 are in the rearmost position shown in solid lines in Fig. 6, follower 51 rides up on peak 52 to urge suction cups 29 into engagement with the bottom blank in magazine 20.

Suction cops 29 are connected to a vacuum pump 53 (Fig. 5) through on-otf valve 54 so as to apply a vacuum between suction cups 29 and blank 1. Valve 54 is actuated to apply such vacuum by an elongated rod 55 attached to the control rod 56 of valve 54 and having a pair of spaced collars 57, 58 fixed thereon. The central portion of rod 55 between collars 57, 58 is slidably received in the boss 59 on one of the arms 37. Hence, movement of arms 37 to the rearmost position shown in Fig. 6 causes boss 59 to contact collar 57, thereby urging rods 55, 56 to the rear or on position of valve 54.

Cups 29 attach themselves to the lowermost blank 1 in magazine 20 and upon further rotation of cam 41 toward its highest dwell arms 37 swing forwardly and follower 51 drops into a valley 60 (Fig. 7) in cam 50. This action first causes suction cups 29 to pull the upper edge of blank 1 from catches 24 and upon further swinging of arms 37 the lower edge of the blank is pulled from behind rollcr 22. Fig. 5 illustrates the feeding mechanism in an intermediate position on its way to the final position shown in dot-dash lines in Fig. 6 in which the leading edge of blank 1 is fed between wheels 39, 40. It is noted that the angularity of link 36 changes during the feeding action in order to allow suction cups 29 to as-' 59 an arm 37 contacts collar 58 to urge rods 55, 56 forwardly to the off position of valve 54. At this point suction cups 29 release blank 1 for further movement by wheels 39, 40. A deflector 61 may be provided adjacent the entrance between said wheels for the purpose of guiding the leading edge of the blank to the correct position.

Although it has-been found preferable to mount magazine 20 angularly with respect to the vertical as shown it is obvious that slightly different means may be provided for supporting the blanks in a vertical stack and for feeding from the top or bottom of said stack to wheels 39, 40. The feeding mechanism employed, however, is preferably timed with conveyor 18 to lead the blanks one after another in correct spaced relationship onto said conveyor.

Wheels 39, 40 are supported for rotation on a pair of vertically spaced shafts 62, 63 which extend generally transversely of the apparatus. A pair of said wheels 39, 40 are provided near each end of shafts 62, 63 and the wheels of each of said pair are in contact for gripping blank 1 at spaced points on said blank. It is noted in Fig. 1 that a portion of shaft 62 has been broken away to indicate shaft 63 and wheel 40 which would other- Wise appear directly thereunder. Shafts 62, 63 may be journalled in hearings in side frame members 64, 65, respectively, and shaft 62 is driven through a sprocket 66 and a chain 67 driven by a sprocket 68 on an idler shaft 69 (Fig. 1). Shaft 69 is driven through a pair of gears 70, 71 by shaft 44. It is noted in Figs. 5, 6 that the direction of rotation of wheels 39 is opposite to the direction of rotation of shaft 44.

Forwardly of wheels 39, 40 in the direction of travel of blank 1 a second and third set of similar wheels 72, 73 and 74, 75 are provided in similar relationship. The points of contact of these latter pairs of wheels are coplanar withthe points of contact with wheels 39, 40 and are also coplanar with the upper surface of a pair of elongated pans 76 extending along each side of conveyor 18 and are for the purpose of supporting blanks 1 on their movement through the apparatus, such pans being rigid with the frame. Wheels 72, 74 are supported on shafts cantilevered from frame members 64 whereas wheels 73, 75 may be supported on shafts journalled in bearings 77 secured to pans 76. While wheels 40, 73, 75 are idler wheels and may be provided with plain steel rims, wheels 39, 72, 74 are each driven and are preferably provided with peripheries of rubber 78 (Fig. 5) or like friction material for gripping blank 1. Each wheel 39, 72, 74 is provided with an associated sprocket 79 around which a continuous chain 80 runs. Takeup idlers 81 may be provided in contact with chain 80 for as suring that it remains in contact with sprocket wheel 79 so that wheels 72, 74 will be driven at the same speed as wheels 39. All of the wheels heretofore described cooperate in urging the blank forward through the apparatus from feeding mechanism 19 and on to conveyor 18. During its movement through said wheels the blank is acted upon by a folding device generally designated 84 (Figs. 1, 8).

As has been previously mentioned, the blank 1 described for use with the apparatus of this invention is provided with a plurality of central flaps 11 and the folding device 84 is for the purpose of folding flaps 11 from the position in which they are formed coplanar with the blank to an upstanding position. For this purpose, an arm 85 extends in the direction of movement of the blank from pan 76.

Projecting from the forward end of arm 85 is a curved spring 86, the upper surface of which extends above the upper surface of the blank 1 supported on plates 76 and arm 85. Spring 86 is offset from the center line of the apparatus so as to contact flap 11 for yieldably urging the same upwardly of blank 1 (Fig. 8). On the opposite side of the central vertical plane of the apparatus and the blank and arm 87 is cantilevered from the frame to extend in the direction of travel of the blank and above the upper surface of the same. At the forward end of arm 87 a folding shoe 88 extends across said central plane and rearwardly toward spring 86. Shoe 88 has a rearwardly directed curved surface 89 which arises from a point near the upper surface of blank 1 adjacent the forward end of spring 86 to a point spaced substantially above said blank and on the opposite side of the central plane thereof.

As the blank 1 is moved forwardly by wheels 39, 72, flap 11 is first broken loose from blank 1 and folded slightly upwardly by spring 86 about its fold line which is along the transverse center line of the blank. Spring 86 raises the free edge of flap 11 sufliciently for it to ride up over surface 89 of the shoe 88. Further movement of blank 1 in a forward direction causes surface 89 to further bend flap 11 upwardly and back over its fold line to the position shown in dot-dash line in Fig. 8. At this point the free end of flap 11 passes under shoe 88. It is noted that flap 11 is bent farther than necessary in order that its inherent resiliency will spring it back to the vertical position after it leaves shoe 88. The portion 83 of arm 87 adjacent shoe 88 may support the blank during folding (Fig. 8).

After blank 1 has progressed through folding device 84 and flaps 11 raised along its central plane thereby wheels '72, 74 urge the blank forwardly to be picked up by conveyor 18. Said conveyor 18 comprises an endless chain 90 (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4) supported on a pair of end sprockets 91, 92 (Figs. 1, 4) and extending from wheels 74 to the far forward end of the apparatus of this invention. Sprockets 91, 92 are mounted on shafts 93, 94 respectively journalled for rotation in the direction of arrow 23 (Fig. 1) in bearings secured to elongated frame members 95 (Figs. 1, 4). Chain 90 may be continuously driven by a. sprocket 96 connected by a chain 97 to any convenient source of power such as an electric motor (not shown). Chain 97 in effect acts as the main drive of the embodiment of the apparatus herein disclosed.-

At spaced points along chain 90 the same is provided with flights 98. Said flights each have forward and trailing ledges 99, 100 (Fig. l). The upper surfaces of which are coplanar with pans '76. Shoulders 101, 102 exist adjac'ent ledges 99, 100 and the spacing between the trailing shoulder 102 on a leading flight 98 and the leading shoulder v101 on a trailing flight is equal to thewidth of a carrier blank 1. Rollers 74 deliver each carrier blank onto conveyor 18 with its leading edge supported by ledge 100 and in abutment with shoulder 102 of one of the flights 93. The next successive flight comes up behind the carrier blank as it moves along and the ledge 99 of said latter flight supports the trailing edge of said blank and shoulder 101 moves into abutment therewith. In this manner each carrier blank is constrained to move between an adjacent pair of flights with its opposite laterally extending edges in engagement with shoulders 102, 101.

As has been previously mentioned, the carrier blanks are oriented to extend transversely of the direction of movement of conveyor 18. In order to avoid twisting of the blank with respect to said conveyor a pair of auxiliary conveyors 103, 104 are provided on either side of conveyor 18 and extending in the same direction. Each auxiliary conveyor 103, 104 comprises a chain 105 supported between a pair of sprockets 106, 107 (Figs. 1, 5)

mounted on shafts 93 and 108, respectively. Not only,

therefore, does shaft 93 drive conveyors 103, 104, but as blank supporting surface 111, similar to ledge 99, and an edge abutting shoulder 112, similar to shoulder 101. Shoulders 112 are aligned with shoulders 101 so that the trailing edge of the carrier blank (shown in dot-dash lines 7 at the left-hand side of Fig. l) is always held at right angles to the direction of movement of conveyor 18.

The next step performed by the apparatus of this invention is to deposit the cans 9 directly onto a flat blank in a pair of rows on opposite sides of center flaps 11. For this purpose a pair of can conveyors, generally designated 113, 114 are provided, extending from points outwardly of opposite sides of the main frame of the apparatus of this invention toward conveyor 18, converging in the direction of movement of said conveyor. Can conveyors 113, 114 each comprise a horizontal can supporting plate 117 which is cantilevered from the frame of the apparatus outwardly of the ends of the carrier blanks for extending directly over the path of travel of said blanks. Plates 117 are adapted to support a pair of lines of upright cans 9 for convergent movement toward the central portion of a blank 1 carried by conveyor 18. '1' he cans may be positioned on plates 117 at their outer diverging ends by any suitable means.

Cans 9 are directed in single file along each of plates 117 by a pair of horizontally spaced guides 118, 119 each of which consists of a pair of vertically spaced rails. Rails 118, 119 are spaced apart just sufiicient to allow free passage of a single line of cans therebetween and rails 118 may be supported on pedestals 121) (Fig. extending upwardly from plates 117. Rails 119 are supported by brackets 121, secured to frame members 95, which also support one end of center bars 122 which extend over the tops of cans 9 to prevent a vertical displacement of said cans. Center bars 122 may also be supported intermediate their ends by rods 123 depending from transverse, overhead frame member 124 (Figs. 1, 5).

The cans are continually urged in converging lines along plates 117 by a pair of friction drive units 125. Said units are hung from a cross member 126 which is supported on center bars 122. Each unit 125 comprises a vertically extending bearing 127 secured to and depending from member 126 and supporting for rotation a vertical shaft 128. Shaft 128 supports at its lower end a horizontal pulley 129. Extending horizontally from bearing 127 generally parallel to can conveyor 114 is a cantilevered bar 131} which supports at its outer end a vertical bearing 131 in which is journalled a second vertical shaft 132. A similar pulley 133 is secured on shaft 132 and a horizontal endless belt 134 runs on pulleys 129, 133. One run of belt 134 is parallel to rails 119 and spaced therefrom a distance substantially equal to the diameter of cans 9.

Therefore, movement of belts 134 in the directions indicated by arrows 135 in Pig. 1 continuously urges the lines of cans on conveyors 113, 114 toward conveyor 13. In order to assure contact of belt 134 with the sides of the cans an idler roller 136 supported on a swingable bracket 137 may be placed on the back side of the run of belt 134 adjacent to cans 9 and yieldably urged by a leaf spring 138 against said run for urging said run against the cans. It will be noted that belt 134- tends to impart a spinning motion to cans 9 to facilitate their movement over plates 117.

Each shaft 128 is provided at its upper end with a bevel gear 139 in mesh with a bevel gear 141! of each end of a transverse shaft 141. Shaft 14-1 is driven by a pair of sprockets 142, 143 mounted on the ends of shafts 141, 93, respectively, and connected by chain 144.

It will be noted in Fig. 1 that plates 117 terminate over the path of travel of carrier blanks 1 so that the line of cans urged along said plates by drive units 125 are pushed off the ends of said plates and onto the carrier blank traveling thereunder. T he spacing between plates 117 and blank 1 is slight, as indicated in Fig. 5, so that the cans will easily slip from said plates on to said blank.

Guide rails 118 are curved near their converging ends (Fig. 1) for guiding the cans into a pair of rows engaging opposite sides of central flaps 11 on the blanks. In this manner the cans are deposited on the moving blank without interruption of the operation of conveyor 18.

Figs. l, 4, show a pair of vertically extending arms 147 projecting upwardly from base portion 143 of flights 98. It is base portion 148 that is formed to provide ledges 99, 111i) and shoulders 101, 162. Projecting oppositely outwardly of each arm 147 are a pair of spreaders 14-9 which extend into the path. of travel of the lines of cans on conveyors 113, 114. As conveyor 18 moves blank 1 along, spreaders 149 interrupt the lines of cans on conveyors 113, 114- to form successive groups of a predetermined number of cans from each said line. As seen in Fig. l, spreaders 149 extend between the third and fourth can in each line to form two groups of three cans each. Since the lines of cans are not positively driven but are merely urged along by drive units 125, spreaders 149 will hold back the fourth can until sufficient movement of conveyor 18 has taken place to allow the fourth can to progress on to the next successive blank. Further movement of conveyor 18 from the position shown in Fig. i also consolidate the two rows of-three cans each into side by side relationship along the central plane of the carrier blank and moves said rows forwardly so that the end can in each row are adjacently leading and trailing transverse edges of the blank. it is obvious that various modified devices could be used to convey the cans onto the moving blank, it being important however that such means are tuned with conveyor 18 for depositing the group of cans of a predetermined number in the correct position on the blank.

While the cans are being deposited on the blank, the end extensions 7, S of said blank are being folded by a pair of similar opposed folding devices 150, 151 (Fig. l) secured on opposite side frame members 95. Each said folding device includes an. outer strip 152 which extends generally in the direction of travel of the blank. The rear end 153 of said strip 152 is generally horizontal and is supported slightly below the level of the flat carrier blank and positioned slightly inwardly of the outer edges of extensions 7, 8. From end 153 forwardly strip 152 is progressively curved inwardly toward the conveyor 13 so that its forward end 155 slants inwardly from the vertical (Fig. 16). A pair of inverted U-shaped brackets 154 secured to strip 152 support a generally parallel inner strip 156 in spaced relation to strip 152. The rearwardly directed end 157 of strip 156 is supported in vertically spaced position above the level of the carrier blank so that the same may pass thereunder. Strip 156 is similarly progressively curved along its length and adjacent end 155 of strip 152, strip 156 is similarly inclined.

The movement of blank 1 by conveyor 13 through folding evices 150, 151 causes end extension 7, 3 to ride up over ends 153 of strips 152 and thereafter follow the curvature of said strips to be folded back upon the remainder of blank 1 (Fig. 10). The portions of blank 1 adjacent extensions 7, 8 ride under strips 156 and are supported thereby during the folding of extensions 7, 8. The only difference between folding device and the folding device 151 is that the former is provided with a downwardly slanting leaf spring 158 cantilevered from end 157 of strip 156. Spring 158 tends to force the locking tabs 12 in extension 7 downwardly while the remainder of extension 7 is being folded upwardly by strip 152. In this manner locking tabs 12 are broken loose from extension 7 and remain coplanar with the remainder of the flat blank 1 (Fig. 10). Since extension 8 is provided with no such locking tabs it is unnecessary to provide folding device 151 with a spring 158. It is noted in Fig. 10 that extension 7 (and likewise extension 8) is folded to a position past the vertical in a manner similar to flap 11, so that upon passage outwardly of the folding device said extension will spring back under its own resiliency to the vertical position.

With the cans deposited on blank 1 and extensions 7,

folded as described, conveyor 18 moves said blanks along pans '76 and into engagement with the side panel folding devices 160 of Fig. 2. Devices 160 are shown in the form of rods secured at their rear ends 161 to a pair of spaced points on pans 76. From ends 161 rods 160 extend slantingly upwardly and convergently inwardly toward portions 162 which are curved over the top of the cans 9 (Fig. 11). From this location rods 161 curve downwardly and slantingly outwardly and have their rearward ends likewise secured to pans 76.

Upon movement of blank 1 and cans 9 between rods 160 side panels 3, 4 will ride up over said rods and will be bent upwardly from top panel 2 (Fig. 11). Further movement causes bottom panels 5, 6 to be urged oppositely inwardly by portions 162 of rods 160 to a position over the tops of cans 9. The cans and carrier then progress to the tucking device 164 (Fig. 2).

Said tucking device includes a pair of forwardly converging slightly downwardly inclined strips 165. The rear ends 166 of strips 165 are spread to gather bottom panels 5, 6 from rods 160 and to further fold said panels toward each other and downwardly over the tops of cans 9. Strips 165 are supported on brackets 167, 168 from an overhead frame member 169 which also sup ports a vertically disposed spreader blade 170 (Fig. 12) which projects in the central vertical plane between the rows of cans 9. Spreader blade 170 is provided with progressively larger projections 171 (Fig. 13) along its length for spreading the top ends of cans 9 in the opposing rows apart for entry of extensions 7, 8 therebetween.

As previously explained, strips 165 slant downwardly throughout their length and are twisted to fold bottom panels 5, 6 progressively downwardly to a position coplanar with each other and extending across the top ends of the cans. Intermediate the ends of strips 165 a pair of auxiliary strips 172 (Fig. 12) are provided for guid-- ing extensions 7, 8 along the opposite surfaces of blade 170 and into the correct position between the tops of the cans (Fig. 13). It is noted from Figs. 12, 13 that strip 165 over bottom panel 6 is somewhat lower than the corresponding strip 165 positioned over panel 5. In this manner bottom panel 6 and extension 8 lead bottom panel and extension 7 in being folded to the final position. The purpose of this is to assure that locking tabs 12, which extend from bottom panel 5 will ride over the upper surface of bottom panel 6 (Figs. 13, 14).

It is important in a carrier of the type described that the sleeve formed be tightly wrapped about the cans 9. For this purpose a pair of side conveyors 173, 174 are provided on opposite sides of the tucking device 164. Said conveyors each comprise an endless chain 175 mounted between a pair of horizontal sprockets 176, 177 (Figs. 2, 3) and provided with a plurality of vertically extending flights 178, 179. Each third flight 178cm each chain is in a form of an angle iron having a leg 180 extending outwardly from chain 175. Conveyors 173, 174 are timed with conveyor 18 so that flights 178 will follow up behind the packed carrier and assist flights 98 on conveyor 18 and moving the same through the remaining apparatus. The intermediate flights 179 are in the form of vertically extending pads for urging side panels 3, 4 of the carrier together between adjacent cans 9. Chain 175 may be provided with horizontally adjustable take-up bars 181 (Fig. 3) for assuring that flights 178, 179 are urged into forcible engagement with side panels 3, 4 of the carrier.

At the forward end of strips 165 a roller 182 (Figs. 3, 14) is mounted depending from overhead frame memher 169 and is yieldably urged by spring 183 downwardly against the juncture between bottom panels 5, 6. Roller 182 insures the final tightening of the carrier sleeve about the cans and forces the full downward insertion of extensions 7, 8 between the cans 9. Referring to Fig. 4, it is seen that side conveyors 173, 174 are driven through the outer end of shaft 193.

10 meshed bevel gears 184, 135, the latter of which are secured to the main drive shaft 94.

It is further noted in Fig. 4 that pans 76 may be provided with oppositely inwardly projecting ribs 186 along their lengths which extend into oppositely outwardly opening slots 187 in the base 148 of each flight 98 for the purpose of maintaining the ledge 99 of said fiight'coplanar with pans 76.

The locking mechanism, generally designated 188, for engaging locking tabs 12 in openings 13 is shown generally in Figs. 3, 4. Said mechanism comprises a gear housing 139 mounted on an overhead frame member 190 and supporting a pair of transverse, horizontal shafts 191, 192 spaced on opposite sides of the drive shaft 193. Drive shaft 193 projects outwardly of housing 189 in bearing 194 and is driven through a chain 195 by a sprocket 196 on shaft 94 and a sprocket 197 on A spur gear 198 is mounted on the inner end of shaft 193 and is in mesh with gears 199, 206 on shafts 191, 192, respectively, for rotating said shafts in the same direction (clockwise). Shafts 191, 192 extend outwardly of housing 189 on the side adjacent conveyor 18 and are provided with a pair of wheels 201, 202 thereon. Said wheels are each provided with an eccentric pin 203, 204, respectively (Figs. 3, 15, 16), projecting outwardly therefrom through concentric holes in a shoe member 205 and through vertically elongated slots in a vertical plate member 206 which is generally paralell to shoe member 205. Shoe memher 205 comprises a generally vertical plate having a horizontal ledge or angle portion 207 (Fig. 4) extending under the lower edge of plate member 206.

The vertical portion of shoe member 205 is provided With a plurality of horizontally projecting pins 203 (Figs. 4, 15, 16) which extend through vertically elongated slots 209 in plate member 206. A vertically extending compression spring 210 is interposed between. a projection 211 secured to shoe member 205 and a projection 212 on plate 206 for yieldably urging said shoe member and said plate member to the relative positions shown in Fig. 15 superimposed one over the other, with pins 203 resting on the bottom of i of concentric pins 203, 204 on the side of plate 206 opposite shoe member 205 are a pair of radial cams 213, 214, the peripheries of which are in engagement with cam followers 215, 216, respectively, which are secured to plates 206. Since pins 203, 204 are secured rigid with wheels 201, 202, the high dwell 217 on each cam 213,

214 describes a circular path about each shaft 191, 192. 1

In this manner high dwell 217 contacts cam followers 215, 216 only when pins 203, 204 are directly below the axes of shafts 191, 192 as illustrated in Fig. 16. At all other times plate 206 and shoe member 205 are in the relative position shown in Fig. 15.

Plate 206 is also provided with a pair of vertically extending punches 220, 221 secured thereto and extending downwardly through openings 222 in ledge 207. The lower ends of punches 220, 221 are in the form of hollow housings of an outside dimension and horizontal spacing substantially equal to that of flaps 13 in bottom panel 6 of the can carrier 1.

Mounted inside said lower end of each said punch are a pair of opposed fingers 223, 224. Said fingers are rotatably mounted on a pair of spaced pins 225, 226, which are secured to the hollow housing, and have a pair of depending portions 227, 223 extending downwardly through openings 222 from pins 225, 226 in side by side relationship on opposite sides of a pin 229 which connects opposite sides of the lower end of the hollow portion of each punch 220, 221. Extending to opposite sides and downwardly toward ledge 207, fingers 223, 224 are provided with lugs 230, 231. Lower portions 227, 228 of fingers 223, 224 are yieldably held together by the action of a compression spring 232 interposed between the upper portions of said fingers.

slots 209. Secured on the ends.

In operation, shoe member 205 and plate member 206 are driven in a continuous circular path by wheels 201, 202 which are timed with conveyor 18 so that ledge 207 engages the top of a carrier on said conveyor along the juncture between panels 5, 6 of said carrier with punches 220, 221 aligned with tabs 12 over flaps 13 (Fig. 17). As the mechanism approaches the position of Fig. 16, the lower ends of punches 226, 221 push tabs 12 and flaps 13 through the opening formed by displacing the latter (Fig. 18).

The final movement of plate member 26d downwardly from shoe member 295 by cams 213, 214 (Fig. 16) causes lugs 230, 231 to engage the top of ledge 2t)? and thereby rotate fingers 223, 224 spreading lower portions 227, 228 thereof.- Portions 22.7, 223 thereby push the oppositely outwardly extending ears of tabs 12 under the edges of panel 6 (Fig. 19) that surround the opening of flap 13 and securely lock the carrier. Further rotation of wheels 201, 2% causes withdrawal of portions 227, 228 by spring 232 and then upward withdrawal of punches 220, 221 and shoe 265 from the carrier.

It is noted that the path of movement of punches 220, 221 during the locking step is nearly coincident with the movement of the carrier and that, therefore, the carrier is secured together without interrupting its continuous movement. it is obvious that other mechanisms could be provided for accomplishing the function of the preferred form shown. Likewise, if desired, mechanism for gluing or otherwise securing the carrier sleeve together could be provided.

In the diagrammatic illustration in Fig. 20, the carrier and can conveyors have been assigned the numbers of the structure previously described in detail. It is obvious that different means could be provided for accomplishing the method of this invention and that the particular description hereinbefore presented should not be taken as restrictive of the invention.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for forming a carrier for a plurality of upright cylindrical cans from a fiat, elongated carrier *blank, comprising: horizontally extending conveyor means for supporting said blank for movement along a path of travel transversely of said blank, means for depositing said plurality of cans with their lower ends on the central portion of said blank in a pair of rows in side by side relationship at opposite sides of the central transverse plane of said blank, means for folding the intermediate central portions of said blank upwardly from said central portion to a position extending across and against the oppositely outwardly facing vertical sides of said cans, means for folding the intermediate end portions of said blank horizontally from said intermediate central portions toward said central plane to overlie the upper ends of said cans, means for folding integral flap means of at least one of the end portions of said blank downwardly from said intermediate end portion at said ccntral plane to extend between said rows, and means for engaging interlocking devices on said intermediate end portions for securing said latter portions together.

2. Apparatus for forming a carrier for a plurality of upright, cylindrical cans from a fiat, elongated carrier blank, comprising: horizontally extending conveyor means for supporting said blank for movement along a path of travel transversely of said blank, means for depositing said plurality of cans with their lower ends on the central portion of said blank in a pair of rows in side by side relationship at opposite sides of the control transverse plane of said blank, means for folding the intermediate central portions of said blank upwardly from said central portion to a position extending across and against the oppositely outwardly facing vertical sides of said cans, means for folding the intermediate end portions of said blank horizontally from said intermediate 'centra portions toward said central plane to overlie the upper ends of said cans, means for separating said rows, means for folding at least one of the marginal end portions of said blank downwardly from said intermediate end portion at said central plane to extend between said rows while so separated, and means for engaging interlocking devices on said intermediate end portions for securing said latter portions together.

3. Apparatus for forming a carrier for a plurality of upright cylindrical cans from a Hat, elongated carrier blank, comprising: horizontally extending conveyor means for supporting said blank for movement along a path of travel transversely of said blank, means for depositing said plurality of cans with their lower ends on the central portion of said blank in a pair of rows in side by side relationship at opposite sides of the central transverse plane of said blank, means for folding the intermediate central portions of said blank upwardly from said central portion to a position extending across and against the oppositely outwardly facing vertical sides of said cans, means for folding the intermediate end portions of said blank horizontally from said intermediate central portions toward said central plane to overlie the upper ends of said cans, means for folding at least one of the marginal end portions of said blank downwardly from said intermediate end portion at said central plane to extend between said rows, means for holding said rows together tightly against said marginal end portion, and means for securing said intermediate end portions together while said rows are so held together.

4. Apparatus for forming a carrier for a plurality of upright cylindrical cans from a flat, elongated carrier blank, comprising: horizontally extending conveyor means for supporting said blank for movement along a path of travel transversely of said blank, magazine means for supporting a plurality of said blanks in stacked relationship, feeder means for feeding one blank at a time from said magazine means to said conveyor means, means for depositing said plurality of cans with their lower ends on the central portion of said blank in a pair of rows in side by side relationship at opposite sides of the central transverse plane of said blank, means for folding the intermediate central portions of said blank upwardly from said central portion to a position extending across and against the oppositely outwardly facing vertical sides of said cans, means for folding the intermediate end portions of said blank horizontally from said intermediate central portions toward said central plane to overlie the upper ends of said cans, means for folding at least one of the marginal end portions of said blank downwardly from said intermediate end portion at said central plane to extend between said rows, and means for engaging interlocking devices on said intermediate end portions for securing said latter portions together.

5. The method of packaging a group of cylindrical upright cans disposed in side by side relation in a pair of parallel rows and which cans have radially outwardly projecting chimes at their ends, comprising the steps of: wrapping a strip-like cardboard blank around said groups of cans transversely of the length of said rows with the central portion of said blank flat and extending across one of the ends of the cans of said rows and with the end portions of said blank each extending across the opposite ends of the cans of one row, at the same time projecting part of the chimes on each of said cans through apertures in said blank, inserting integral flap means of at least one of the end sections of said blank between said rows at said opposite ends of said cans. holding said blank tightly wrapped around said cans with said end portions aligned and at the same time engaging integral interlocking parts of the end portions of said blank by pushing said interlocking parts towards said cans, engagement of said interlocking parts thereafter maintaining said blank tightly wrapped around said cans with said chimes so projecting and said end portions so aligned.

6. The method of packaging a group of cylindrical 13 cans disposed upright in side by side relation in a pair of parallel rows of equal length comprising the steps of: moving said rows longitudinally thereof in one direction with said cans in upright condition, associating and mo ing with said rows an elongated strip-like carton blank with the central portion of said blank fiat and in engagement with one of the ends of the cans of said rows and extending transversely of said rows, folding the intermediate portions of said blank that adjoin said central portion to overlie the oppositely outwardly facing sides of said rows, folding each of the end portions of said blank to overlie the opposite ends of the cans of one of said rows, at the same time projecting parts of the peripheral ends of said cans through apertures in said blank, separating said opposite ends of the cans of one row from the other, inserting integral flap means of an end section of said blank between said rows while so separated, moving said opposite ends of the cans of said rows into tight engagement with the oppositely outwardly facing surfaces of said flap means, and while holding said cans in said engagement and said blank tightly wrapped around said cans with said end portions aligned engaging integral interlocking parts of said end portions by moving said interlocking parts toward said cans, engagement of said interlocking parts thereafter maintaining said blank tightly wrapped around said cans with said peripheral ends so projecting and with said end portions so aligned.

7. A method of forming a carrier for a plurality of upright, cylindrical objects comprising the steps of: moving a fiat, elongated carrier blank along a horizontal path of travel directed transversely of said blank, depositing a plurality of said objects on said blank about centrally thereof and in a line extending along said path, bending the oppositely outwardly projecting portions of said blank upwardly to extend across and against the oppositely outwardly facing sides of said plurality of objects, bending the end portions of said blank toward each other to overlie the upper ends of said plurality of objects, at the same time projecting parts of the periph eral ends of said objects through apertures in said blank, holding said blank tightly wrapped around said plurality of objects with said end portions aligned and overlying said upper ends of said objects, and at the same time pushing integral locking parts on one of said end portions through openings in the other of said end portions toward said objects, engagement of said locking parts and said openings thereafter maintaining said blank tightly wrapped around said objects with said peripheral ends so projecting and with said end portions so aligned.

8. A method of forming a carrier for a plurality of upright, cylindrical cans comprising the steps of: moving a flat, elongated carrier blank along a horizontal path of travel directed transversely of said blank, forming integral projections on said blank at the central transverse plane thereof, associating and moving with said blank a plurality of said cans in a pair of rows in side by side relationship at opposite sides of said projections with the ends of said cans in engagement with the central portion of said blank, folding the oppositely outwardly extending portions of said blank normal to said central portion to extend across and snugly against the oppositely outwardly facing sides of said cans, folding the end portions of said blank toward said central plane to overlie and engage the opposite ends of said cans, at the same time projecting parts of the peripheral ends of said cans through apertures in said blank folding at least one of the end portions of said blank toward said central panel at said central plane to extend between said rows, holding said blank tightly wrapped around said cans with said end portions aligned, and at the same time securing said end portions of said blank together by inserting integral loking parts on one or" said end portions through openings in the other end portion toward said cans, engagement of said locking parts and said openings thereafter maintaining said blank tightly Wrapped around said cans with said peripheral ends so projecting and said end portions so aligned.

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